Turkey: New Bust of Truck with Rockets and Bombs for Al-Qaeda in Syria

Christof Lehmann (nsnbc) , – The Turkish Aydinlik Daily (AD) reports that a truckload, containing rocket launchers, missiles and bombs has been seized by Turkish security forces in Turkey´s Adana Province. The bust of the truck follows the recent seizure of a truck with remote detonators for bombs en route to terrorists in Syria and allegations of government involvement in covering up the arms trafficking.

Turkey remains one of the primary transit routes for illegal arms shipments to al-Qaeda mercenaries, supported by Saudi Arabia and core NATO members in Syria. The new seizure of weapons also follows demands by the Syrian government, that Turkey fully cooperates in the investigation of the shipment of chemicals and chemical weapons to Syria via Turkey.

Aydinlik Daily quoted the Gendarmerie as stating, that the missiles and weapons were actually being transferred to the al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusrah in Syria. The newspaper quotes the governor of Adana as saying that the cargo, among others, contained 1200 rocket-propelled grenades.

Aydinlik Daily reports, that the bust came after police had received information that a large quantity of drugs would be brought to a workshop in the metal industrial district of Adana.

Police then followed and stopped a truck for a narcotics search but discovered the weapons instead. Police also raided and ransacked the workshop and arrested both the driver of the truck as well as people who were found in the workshop.

After the initial discovery that the truck contained weapons instead of narcotics, and after taking extensive security precautions, the police reportedly seized “a large number of rockets, grenades and weapons of various calibers and kinds”. AD reports, that the police brought the truck to a police station to discharge the weapons and for an inventory.

The seizure of yet another shipment of weapons prompted the police to launch a multi-faceted investigation to unravel who is responsible for the shipment and exactly whom the delivery was meant for. Aydinlik Daily quotes Adana governor Hüseyin Avni Coş as saying, that it was possible that the weapons were being transferred to a terrorist organization.

Coş did not reveal the exact number of people who have been detained and referred to that fact that this is an ongoing investigation, and that more arrests, particularly of those who were behind the shipment, could be expected.

Coş was reportedly confident that the weapons were not meant to be used in Turkey, but that there so far, was conflicting information with regards to the final recipient of the shipment. Adana governor Coş reportedly said:

“These weapons are not humanitarian aid. … It is possible that these weapons were being transported to a state or a terrorist organization, considering what kind of items they are. … The country of origin of the rocket warheads is being investigated and it is possible that they were produced in Turkey.”

Weapons are from Turkey, states the Turkish Aydinlik Newspaper, based on Exclusive Information.

The Turkish Aydinlik Newspaper reports, that it has “very exclusive information” related to the ammunition. The newspaper quotes sources, close to the governorate of Adana, as saying that a truckload of ammunition is due to be transported to terrorist groups in Syria. Terrorists in Syria had reportedly ordered ammunition from the Turkish weapons factories in Adana and Konya.

The source reportedly stated, that the weapons, which were seized in Konya, had been brought to Adana, and that the police had conducted the raid while people were working on the assembly of the warheads for the rocket-propelled grenades.

Aydinlik Daily quotes sources within the local Gendarmerie as saying, that the recipient of the weapons shipment was in the al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusrah.

Jabhat al-Nusrah is known for receiving massive support in the form of weapons, finances, logistics as well as liaison to special forces from Saudi Arabia and core NATO member states, including Turkey.

Remote controlled detonators seized in Hatay, Turkey

A senior member of the Gendarmerie, who remains anonymous, has told Aydinlik that the weapons were meant to be delivered to Jabhat al-Nusrah, who is controlling the arms trafficking in the region.Aydinlik Daily points out that the materials captured in the truck in Adana are:

“Highly reminiscent of similar incidents that have been occurring recently. Police seized material which is used in the production of Sarin gas in Adana in May, and the person accused of keeping the related material was proven to be connected with al-Qaeda and its Syrian branch, al-Nusra. Police also seized explosive devices in a truck coming from Egypt, in the Mersin Port. Security forces also stopped 3 vehicles in the Narlıca municipality of Hatay and seized 20 sacks of sulphur, each of them weighing 50 kg, and 8 sealed barrels, the contents of which still remain unknown.

The seizure of the truck in Adana comes only days after police stopped a truck and found remote-controlled detonators in Hatay. As it appears to be the case in Adana, also details about the seizure of the detonators in Hatay strongly suggests that officials within the governorate are involved in the arms trafficking.

The latest case also comes only a week after the discovery of a hospital for al-Qaeda terrorists, run by the Saudi Arabia based NGO Rabita al-Alam al-Islami in the Hatay district of Turkey, prompted a debate in Turkey´s parliament.

Syria Demands Full Cooperation from Turkey in Chemical Weapons Case.

Members of the Saudi and core NATO member backed Jabhat al-Nusrah, Liwa-al-Islam and other al-Qaeda brigades have been directly implicated in the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The arrest of Syrian and Turkish terrorists in possession of chemicals, including Sarin, and their subsequent acquittal in a Turkish court has prompted the Syrian government to style a letter to the UN Security Council´s committees on counterterrorism, demanding Turkey´s full cooperation in the investigation into the arrest of the terrorists.

Syria also demands that an investigation is launched, to compare the chemicals seized from the terrorists who were arrested in Turkey, with the toxic chemicals which were used in the chemical weapons attack in the Khan al-Assal district of Aleppo, Syria, earlier this year. Turkey is, along with Jordan, Israel and Lebanon, one of the primary transit countries for the shipment of weapons to the mercenary brigades in Syria.

About the Author

Christof Lehmann - Dr. Christof Lehmann is the founder and editor of nsnbc. He is a psychologist and former independent political consultant on conflict, conflict resolution and a wide range of other political issues.
In March 2013 he established nsnbc as a daily, independent, international on-line newspaper. He can be contacted at nsnbc international at nsnbc.wordpress@gmail.com

You are right, it is a crime and there needs to be a full investigation as Syria demands.By the way, Lehmann has written a complete and full analysis of the chemical weapons attack on 21 August and established “direct responsibility” including the commander and brigade that used the chemical weapon… and moreover, he has establishd “direct political and command responsibility” for the attack at Top-White House level, Top- Pentagon, Top CIA and Top Saudi Interior Ministry levels… Its a scandal that no prosecutor picks up this article and launches an investigation! You are right, Syria is right to demand an investigation. The link to the article is HERE: http://nsnbc.me/2013/10/07/top-us-and-saudi-officials-responsible-for-chemical-weapons-in-syria/